Special Edition: Will the Greens Last?

A year has passed since the unprecedented events that followed the presidential election that was meant to bring change to the management of the country.  The people’s protest movement has finally taken shape after thirty years.  “Where’s my vote?” is the slogan that began the movement, which seeks freedom through non-violent means.  Once the regime decided to shed the blood of its innocent citizens, the civil movement’s demands shifted from contesting the fraudulent election to threatening the rule of the Islamic Republic’s elites.

The regime appears to have succeeded in crushing the street demonstrations through widespread arrests, executions, rapes, threats, and intimation, particularly during the 22nd of Bahman.  A year later, has the movement truly been stifled?  Do the Greens have the same power and bravery as they did a year ago?  How can we keep the Movement alive?  What role can civil society play?

Gozaar commemorates the one year anniversary of this grassroots movement and has decided to publish a special edition entitled, “Will the Greens last?”  We asked experts, politicians, civil society activists, and journalists to analyze the past year’s events in Iran.  Many of our contributors live in Iran and are forced to write under pseudonyms for fear of repercussions.

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The Universitites are Alive
In this article, Sadegh Shojaii analyzes the student movement and argues that the student movement makes up a major and vital node of the Green Movement both in terms of quality and quantity, because it serves as a cross-point for other individual movements such as women's rights, labor, and ethnic movements.

The Future of the Green Movement is Bright
Erfan Mohammadi interviews Abbas Milani about the founding, present state, and future of the Green Movement.  While the Movement faces a severe government crackdown, Milani concludes that the future of the movement remains bright.

Women's Movement: A Model for the Green Movement
Parisa Kakaee analyzes the women's movement and the role of women in the Green Movement.  She states that if it were not for the presence of women in the post-election demonstrations, the violence might have escalated to a greater degree.

10 Green Movement Strategies to Make the Islamic Regime Yield
In this article, Majid Mohammadi provides ten strategies to help the Green Movement overcome the obstacles it currently faces and overcome the government's tight grip.

The Situation of Journalists Inside Iran
Shabnam Azar speaks to numerous reporters inside Iran and provides an analysis on the current situation and risks involved with journalism.

The Protest Movement and Religious Seminaries: Green or Black?
Mohammad Javad Akbarien analyzes the role of the clergy in the  Green Movement.  He reveals that the majority of the residents in Qom voted for the reformist candidates in past elections.

The Allah-o Akbar that Targeted the Heart of the Dictator
In this article, Jalal Hosseini speaks with people inside Iran and analyzes the imact of chanting Allah-o Akbar as a form of protest in a religious state, where religion is present in every aspect of life.